IAEA Calls for Iran to Halt Enrichment Activities

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) passed a resolution on Wednesday directing Iran to “cease all enrichment activities” and to permit IAEA inspectors to assess its current stock of enriched uranium.

For years, Iran’s Islamist regime has made it difficult for the IAEA to effectively monitor its nuclear operations. There was only a limited inspection at the Bushehr nuclear power plant, and, notably, no inspections of other nuclear sites. IAEA Director Rafael Grossi has specifically requested inspector access to Iran’s enrichment facility, reminding Iran of its international obligations, but permission has not been granted as of now.

The IAEA is the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog, responsible for inspecting nuclear facilities to ensure compliance with the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and relevant international laws. Despite Tehran’s long-standing friction with the IAEA, the agency has only declared Iran in violation of international law once in the past twenty years—back in June 2025, just before President Trump’s airstrikes on key Iranian enrichment sites.

The resolution, supported by the United States, emphasized Iran’s duty to permit inspections and to halt uranium enrichment. This resolution emerged during ongoing talks between Washington and the Iranian government aimed at reaching a peace deal, with Trump indicating that Iran’s commitment to stop nuclear activities would be a requirement.

The document stated, “Iran’s ongoing failures to provide timely cooperation regarding undeclared nuclear material and activities at various unspecified locations signify non-compliance with its obligations.” It insisted that Iran should “cease all enrichment-related and reprocessing activities, including research and development, and halt all heavy water projects.”

The resolution deems it “essential and urgent” for Iran to allow nuclear facility inspections, ensuring compliance with legal obligations. Furthermore, it demands that Iran provide the UN with comprehensive details regarding its nuclear program, as Iran is a party to the NPT.

In a vote tally, twenty-one members supported the resolution, with only three voting against: Russia, China, and Niger, which is known as a significant uranium producer and has been involved in uranium transactions with Iran.

Before the resolution was passed, IAEA Director-General Grossi expressed significant frustration regarding Iran’s firm stance on nuclear activities. He pointed out that, since the June 2025 airstrike, the agency has not been able to ascertain details about Iran’s uranium stockpile due to inspectors not being granted access. He suggested that current estimates about Iran’s enriched uranium are based on outdated and speculative information.

As for the state of the uranium enrichment facilities in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan, they remain opaque, making it impossible to gauge Iran’s current enrichment capabilities. Before the airstrike, it was believed that Iran had 440.9 kilograms of 60 percent enriched uranium, which raised alarms given its potential for nuclear weaponization. Grossi warned that such a stockpile could yield up to ten nuclear warheads.

He noted, “It has now been almost a year since authorities have had no access to the declared nuclear facilities impacted by the June 2025 military action. As a result, they have lost ongoing knowledge about previously declared nuclear materials at those sites.” He expressed concerns that this highly enriched uranium could pose proliferation risks, which have not been verifiable since June 2025.

Grossi urged Iran to work constructively with the IAEA to facilitate effective compliance under the NPT safeguards agreement. He also expressed his full support for ongoing negotiations between the U.S. and Iran, indicating his readiness to endorse a verifiable deal.

Grossi criticized the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the prior attempt to address Iran’s nuclear ambitions, suggesting that parties should avoid pursuing a similar agreement.

In response to the resolution, Iranian officials reacted strongly, branding it a political statement rather than a legitimate technical evaluation. One statement from Iran’s mission to the UN highlighted the resolution as lacking professionalism, asserting it was overly influenced by the U.S.

Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister also complained that the resolution represented a “shift of responsibility,” claiming that Iran could not allow access to inspectors due to the bombing campaign.

In a social media message, he maintained that documented attacks on Iranian nuclear sites by Israel and the U.S. led to the expulsion of IAEA inspectors for security reasons.